Railway switch point to switch box connecting means



Sept. 13, 1932. J. c. MOCK 1,877,524

RAILWAY SWITCH POINT TO SWITCH BOX CONNECTING MEANS Filed Dec. 10, 1931 FIG. 1.

I FIG. 4. I 22 j INVENTOR BY James C. Mock, 7M1? 7%5 H15 ATTOR'NEY.

Patented Sept. 13, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFER JAMES C."MOGK, OF DETROI'IQIMICHIGAN:

RAILWAY SWITCH POINT To SWITCH Box CONNECTING MEANS Application filed December 10, 1931. Serial No. 580,182.

This invention relates in generalto connecting means, and has more particular ref erence to an improved Connecting means between a switch box and a track switch,as

5 employed in railway practice. 7

It is usual to connect the movable parts of a track switch with a switch box in order to control circuits in accordance with movement of track switches. It is particularly desirable 1 to have the connection free from lost motion,

so that even a very small movement of the switch points from locked and fully thrown position, for example, will operate the circuit controlling means in the SWltCh box, and

15 obviously a very small amount of lost motion, such as might occur from wear in the various parts connected, could. defeat this desired accurate following of the switch 7 points bythe operated parts in the switch box.

Furthermore, under the conditions encountered in practice, under which large variations in temperature and moisture occur from day to day, and throughout a season, 25 there is a very considerable shifting ofthe switch points due to ground movement from frost and freezing, and to expansion and contraction of rails, and the like, such as might cause binding or breaking of various connect- With the above. and other objects in view, it is proposed, in accordance with this invention, to employ a ball and socket joint conof the rod adjacent the switch point, which connects the point with a switch box.

1 It is furthermore contemplated to provide such a'ball and socket joint as will-permit ready adjustment of the parts, to thereby take up lost motion due to wear.

Further objects, purposes and characteristic features will appear as the description progresses, reference being made tothe accompanying drawing showing, solely by way of example, and in no manner whatsoever in a hmitmg sense, one form which the invention can assume. In the drawing Fig. 1 IS a diagrammatic plan view of the invention.

ing means, unless properly protected against. 7

nection between a switch point and that end Fi 2 is a fra mentar side elevation with b, a y parts shown in sectlon.

Fig. 3 s a fragmentary. end elevation with parts shown in section. V

Fig. 41s a fragmentary detail'plan view. 7 Referring now to the drawing, and first to F1 1 there is here shown a track rail 1 carried on usual ties 2, and one point 3, of

a track switch, which is movable toward and away from the rail 1, as 51s well understood by those versed in this particular art. 1

Carried on one of theties 2, is a switch box SB,;w hich can be of any usual or desired construction, such for example, as shown in application Ser.No. ASYA lfi filed March 20, 1930. For operating the mechanism within the switch box SB,there.-is a crank 4, carry ing a ball knob 5, received in a socket memher formed by a member 7, having opposed The inner and outer socket members 14 and r 16 form a socket forfreceiving a ball 18,

' threaded onto the end of a connecting arm 19, with the two parts held in position by means of a pin or the like 20.- The member 19 includes an elongated flat plate portion 21, which is fixed, as by means of bolts 22, to the end of the switch point 3.

The threads 13 and 15 are respectively left hand threads and right hand threads, or the. reverse, and are of the same pitch, whereby the inner socket member 14 can be simultaneously threaded into 16, andonto 12, to in-' .terconnect and draw together the parts 12 and 16, to assemble the device. The inner socket member is held in ad usted position in any usual or desired manner, as for example by I a pin 23.

The parts above described, constitute a V H connection between the switch point 3 and the switch box SB which, when properly adjusted, includes practically no lost motion and hence the operated parts within the box SB can be operated by a very small move- -ment of the switch points, of the order, for

18 and the socket members l t and 16, this can be adjustedfor by turning the inner socket member 14c. Upon turning this-socket member to cause it to travel inwardly in the outer socket member 16, it will move to take up any play in the connection without materially disturbing the relative position or" the arm 19 and the rod 11. I

Due to weather conditions, such as frost and the like,-the switch point 3 not only may move vertically, but may shift lengthwise of the track rails to a considerable extent; at some times several inches within a short period of time. An ordinary pin or swivel connection between the rod 11 and the switch points 8 might easily be caused to bind or even break due to these relative movements which occurred between the switch points and the switch box. Furthermore, usual pin or swivel connections do not adapt themselves to being readily adjusted to take up play and lost motion. Thus the ball and socket joint of this invention is of manifest advantage.

The above rather specific description of one form of the invention has been given solely by way of illustration, and is not intended, in any manner whatsoever, in a limiting sense. Obviously, this invention can assume many different physical forms, and is susceptible of numerous modifications, andall such forms and modifications, are intended by this invention, as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, I new claim y 1. In combination with a track switch and a switch box, a. rod connecting the switch and box, a ball and socket joint between the track switch and the adjacent end of said rod, a plate for connection to the track switch with .a threaded stem thereon, the ball of said joint being threaded onto said stem, and means within the socket of the joint for pinning the ball to said threaded stem.

2. In combination with a track switch and a switch box, a rod connecting the switch and box, a ball and socket joint between the track switch and the adjacent end of said rod, the said oint including a socket formed by two socket members, means for relatively adjusting said two members to adjust for wear between the ball and its socket, a plate for connection to the track switch, a threaded stem thereon, the ball of said joint being threaded onto said stem, and means pinning the ball to said threaded stem.

3. In combination with a track switch and a switch box, a rod connecting the switch and box, a ball and socket joint between the track switch and the adjacent end of said rod, said ball and socket joint including a thread on the adjacent end of the rod,an inner socket member threaded on the end of the rod, and a cuplike outer socket member threaded onto the inner socket member, a ball received in the socket formed by the said two socket members, a threaded stem received in the ball, and a connection plate on the threaded stem for connection to the switch point.

4. In combination with a track switch and a switch box, a rod connecting the switch and box, a ball and socket joint between the track switch and the adjacent end of said rod, said ball and socket joint including a thread on the adjacent end of the rod, an inner socket member threaded on the end of the rod, and a cuplike outer socket member threaded onto the inner socket member, the threads on the end of the rod and on the outer socket member being of the same pitch and oppositely threaded.

5. In combination with a track switch and a switch box, a rod connecting the switch and box, and aball and socket joint between the track switch and the adjacent end of said rod, said ball and socket joint including a thread on the adjacent end of the rod, an inner socket member threaded on the end of the rod, and a. cuplike outer socket member threaded onto the inner socket member,fa ball received in the socket formed by the said two socket members, a threaded stem received in the ball, a connection plate on the threaded stem for connection to the switch point, the

threads on the end of the rod and on the outersocket member being of the same pitch and oppositely threaded. V I

6. In combination with a track switch and a switch box, a rod connecting the switch and box, a ball and socket joint between the track switch and the adjacent end of said rod,

said ball and socket joint including a thread on the adjacent end of the rod, an inner socket member threaded on the end of the rod, and a cuplike out-er socket member threaded onto the inner socket member, a ball received in the socket formed by the said two socket members, a threaded stem received in the ball, a connection plate on the threaded stem, for connection to the switch point, the threads on the end ofthe rod, and on the outer socket member being of the same pitch and oppositely threaded, and a pin for holding the inner socket member in adjusted position on the threaded rod.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

J AMES C. MOCK. 

